Wednesday, 25 February 2009

A quick scan of the playing field at work and, hey presto, a superb adult Med Gull wandering around looking for stuff (food, one asumes). Only the second site record - the first being seen by The Bearded One as he stared skyward a couple of years ago (I don't think his neck goes that far back now).

Managed to get Adam out of some bushes (just what was he doing there) and lined up to take a few pics.

Monday, 16 February 2009

This turned out to be the last image taken of our resident Tawney Owls as the following day they were disturbed by some tree felling near-by and took this as a final message to buzz off. Can only hope that they'll return to this tree in teh future - fingers crossed!

The site is usually excellent for the winter thrushes - providing some really interesting retrap data between winters of Fieldfare (up to about 10% of the national catch of Fieldfare have been ringed each year on this site).

The first Waxwing caught was this female (note the diffuse lower edge ofthe black bib)

Later this male (strong demarkation to the bib) was caught, allowing a useful comparison between the sexes.

Sunday, 1 February 2009

With occasional news of a Great Grey Shrike at Pannel Valley Nature Reserve, nr Rye, I decided that a photo opportunity was in my grasp.

I found Pannel Farm, I found Little or Lower Pannel something else - but could I work out how to get to the NR? Could I buggery! Some 'folk' drove out of Pannel Farm so I asked them the directions, they pointed back up the road and talked about canels. I suspect that I was parked in the right place (not that they said that) and could have easily walked to the site - but as they hadn't given me distances, I was clueless about what to do.

After lots of walking and driving around, I went home. The result - probably 100 miles driving and one Water Rail. Bollocks!

Real-time Earth and Moon phase

About Ross Newham - The Bald Birder

My natural history delights, now back in Kent, after lots of travels and a couple of years in Oxfordshire. The arrival of Junior Baldie and Junioress Baldie has meant a change to my natural history habits - gone, for the time being, is all-day ringing and in place? Moths...